By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.
Just like the last blog entry that dealt with doctors, this entry details two more docs that have been arrested during these pillmill crackdowns...
TAMPA — They set up shop in Hillsborough County, prescribing pain pills until deputies shut them down in March.
Within weeks, JW Wellness, the pain clinic that had previously been shut down, sprouted just blocks away in a new jurisdiction. Tampa police noticed.
Undercover officers posed as patients who didn't need pills but wanted them. They brought MRIs the officers say were obviously fraudulent. And they got enough evidence to execute a search warrant back in August, confiscating 79 patient files.
The arrests came soon after.
The clinic's owner, a man, 37, was led from his Tampa house in handcuffs. In nearby Thonotosassa, a doctor practicing at another clinic was arrested in connection with his work at JW Wellness in Tampa.
That doctor, a man, 59, of Oldsmar is licensed and has not been previously arrested in Florida, records show.
In all, eight people connected to JW Wellness were charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering. Seven of them were also charged with racketeering and conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.
A Tampa Assistant Chief said the investigation took months because authorities have to prove a doctor prescribed the oxycodone and Xanax pills unnecessarily. It's not like arresting people selling cocaine or heroin, he said, which are illegal in all cases.
Meanwhile, authorities searched two other clinics in Hillsborough.
State officials took records from Main Street Medical in Thonotosassa, where the elder doctor was working.
At Busch Pain Clinic in Tampa, police also arrested a male doctor, 75, of Land O'Lakes. They charged him with writing a prescription for a controlled substance through deception, untruthfulness or fraud.
This most recent roundup comes a day after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the nation's doctors prescribed enough addictive painkillers last year to medicate every American adult around the clock for a month.
The report said addictive narcotic medications such as OxyContin and Vicodin are responsible for nearly 15,000 deaths a year, more than cocaine and heroin combined.
In a news release, the Florida state Attorney General thanked Hillsborough and state authorities for their investigations.
"Today's arrests should send a clear message that prescription drug trafficking in Florida will not be tolerated," she said.
Have you or a loved one been arrested for possession of a controlled substance or drug trafficking? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!
For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers,please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Welcome to the blog of a Clearwater-based Tampa bay area criminal defense attorney. Visit our website at www.BlakeDorstenLaw.com or call us at 727-286-6141 for all your legal needs. Our office is located across from the 49th street criminal courthouse, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104, Clearwater 33762.
Showing posts with label doctor shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctor shopping. Show all posts
Monday, November 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Doctors and Pills
By Nick Dorsten, Esq.
While we have blogged often about the pain pill epidemic in Pinellas county, Florida (see here and here), this article from the Times on line tells of local doctors getting their medical license suspended for overprescribing prescription pills...
TAMPA — State health officials on Thursday announced the emergency suspension of a Tampa doctor's license, accusing the Tampa doctor of writing excessive prescriptions for powerful painkillers that may have contributed to a patient's death.
The Florida Board of Medicine has long been aware of concerns about the man's practices. In 2007, he was fined $12,500 for inappropriately prescribing narcotics and other drugs. His medical license was suspended after he failed to comply with the terms of his discipline.
The doctor, 53, did not comment on his suspension. A representative answering the phone at his Medical Group on Busch Boulevard said he was working there but unavailable. The complaints leading to his suspension were from his time practicing at Harbour Medical Group in Lutz, a pain clinic which has since been closed.
In ordering his license suspended, state health officials cited the case of a 37-year-old man who came to see the doc for arthritis pain and anxiety. Over several visits, the man was prescribed large quantities of oxycodone and Xanax without reviewing the patient's medical history, records show.
In March, the doctor discharged the patient after receiving a tip that he was abusing the medications. Several weeks later, the patient died from problems including a cardiac condition associated with long-term drug abuse.
Health officials also faulted the doctor for increasing another patient's regimen until he was being prescribed 795 pain pills, including 495 oxycodone tablets, in a single visit to the doctor!
Have you or a loved one been arrested for possession of a controlled substance or drug trafficking? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!
For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers,please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.
While we have blogged often about the pain pill epidemic in Pinellas county, Florida (see here and here), this article from the Times on line tells of local doctors getting their medical license suspended for overprescribing prescription pills...
TAMPA — State health officials on Thursday announced the emergency suspension of a Tampa doctor's license, accusing the Tampa doctor of writing excessive prescriptions for powerful painkillers that may have contributed to a patient's death.
The Florida Board of Medicine has long been aware of concerns about the man's practices. In 2007, he was fined $12,500 for inappropriately prescribing narcotics and other drugs. His medical license was suspended after he failed to comply with the terms of his discipline.
The doctor, 53, did not comment on his suspension. A representative answering the phone at his Medical Group on Busch Boulevard said he was working there but unavailable. The complaints leading to his suspension were from his time practicing at Harbour Medical Group in Lutz, a pain clinic which has since been closed.
In ordering his license suspended, state health officials cited the case of a 37-year-old man who came to see the doc for arthritis pain and anxiety. Over several visits, the man was prescribed large quantities of oxycodone and Xanax without reviewing the patient's medical history, records show.
In March, the doctor discharged the patient after receiving a tip that he was abusing the medications. Several weeks later, the patient died from problems including a cardiac condition associated with long-term drug abuse.
Health officials also faulted the doctor for increasing another patient's regimen until he was being prescribed 795 pain pills, including 495 oxycodone tablets, in a single visit to the doctor!
Have you or a loved one been arrested for possession of a controlled substance or drug trafficking? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!
For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers,please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Pain Clinic Doctor Suspended
By Nick Dorsten, Esq.
LARGO — For the second time in five years, health officials have taken emergency action to stop a Pinellas County doctor from writing excessive prescriptions for powerful painkillers.
Authorities say the doctor, an osteopathic family physician, prescribed "potentially lethal quantities" of widely abused narcotics such as Roxicodone and Percocet, often without even a physical exam.
He also permitted an assistant — a nurse who was then his girlfriend — to illegally sign prescriptions after he took a leave from practice, state health officials say.
Similar charges netted this doctor, 46, a previous suspension in 2006. In that violation, he was fined $12,500 but still allowed to return to practice.
In recent years, the man, who could not be reached for comment, has been treating patients at his Medical Clinic, a pain clinic at Seminole Blvd. in Largo.
An employee told investigators he was instructed to recruit new patients by promising they would leave the clinic with at least 240 oxycodone pills, as well as other prescription medications popular as street drugs.
When contacted, two patients said the clinic knew they were illegally going from doctor's office to doctor's office to shop for drugs (commonly charged as "doctor shopping", a third fegree felony!
Even with that knowledge, the doctor refilled their prescriptions.
One was a 41-year-old man. In an 8-month period, he left the pain clinic on 10 occasions with prescriptions from the doctor on each visit for 690 pills, mostly narcotics.
At one point, the patient told the doc that he was worried about being overmedicated and even asked to change his treatment.
But the man was informed that his prescriptions were pre-signed and couldn't be changed — at least not without a $25 charge.
The Florida Department of Health announced Wednesday the emergency suspension of his medical license.
As noted above, this was not the first time the "good" doctor has had run ins with the law...
In 2006, he was the medical director of a St. Petersburg walk-in clinic advertising easy access to Vicodin, Percocet and other drugs.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office eventually raided the clinic and arrested one of its doctors, as well as the clinic's owner and two physician's assistants.
But the doctor wasn't charged. Detectives said he was rarely there.
Instead, he signed stacks of blank prescriptions and sent them by courier from his main office in Seminole.
Outside of his medical work, he has also been arrested multiple times, most recently in 2009 on cocaine charges.
In a related story, state health officials suspended the license of another doctor, a Treasure Island osteopathic physician who pleaded guilty in August to a felony drug trafficking charge involving oxycodone.
Have you or someone you loved been arrested for a prescription drug or an oxycodone charge? Then contact the law offices of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. to speak with an experienced Pinellas criminal defense lawyer now!
Our office is located at 4707 140th ave. N, Suite 107, Clearwater, FL 33762, across from the criminal courthouse and minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg. You can contact your St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney by phone at 727.286.6141 or online at info@BlakeDorstenLaw.com.
LARGO — For the second time in five years, health officials have taken emergency action to stop a Pinellas County doctor from writing excessive prescriptions for powerful painkillers.
Authorities say the doctor, an osteopathic family physician, prescribed "potentially lethal quantities" of widely abused narcotics such as Roxicodone and Percocet, often without even a physical exam.
He also permitted an assistant — a nurse who was then his girlfriend — to illegally sign prescriptions after he took a leave from practice, state health officials say.
Similar charges netted this doctor, 46, a previous suspension in 2006. In that violation, he was fined $12,500 but still allowed to return to practice.
In recent years, the man, who could not be reached for comment, has been treating patients at his Medical Clinic, a pain clinic at Seminole Blvd. in Largo.
An employee told investigators he was instructed to recruit new patients by promising they would leave the clinic with at least 240 oxycodone pills, as well as other prescription medications popular as street drugs.
When contacted, two patients said the clinic knew they were illegally going from doctor's office to doctor's office to shop for drugs (commonly charged as "doctor shopping", a third fegree felony!
Even with that knowledge, the doctor refilled their prescriptions.
One was a 41-year-old man. In an 8-month period, he left the pain clinic on 10 occasions with prescriptions from the doctor on each visit for 690 pills, mostly narcotics.
At one point, the patient told the doc that he was worried about being overmedicated and even asked to change his treatment.
But the man was informed that his prescriptions were pre-signed and couldn't be changed — at least not without a $25 charge.
The Florida Department of Health announced Wednesday the emergency suspension of his medical license.
As noted above, this was not the first time the "good" doctor has had run ins with the law...
In 2006, he was the medical director of a St. Petersburg walk-in clinic advertising easy access to Vicodin, Percocet and other drugs.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office eventually raided the clinic and arrested one of its doctors, as well as the clinic's owner and two physician's assistants.
But the doctor wasn't charged. Detectives said he was rarely there.
Instead, he signed stacks of blank prescriptions and sent them by courier from his main office in Seminole.
Outside of his medical work, he has also been arrested multiple times, most recently in 2009 on cocaine charges.
In a related story, state health officials suspended the license of another doctor, a Treasure Island osteopathic physician who pleaded guilty in August to a felony drug trafficking charge involving oxycodone.
Have you or someone you loved been arrested for a prescription drug or an oxycodone charge? Then contact the law offices of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. to speak with an experienced Pinellas criminal defense lawyer now!
Our office is located at 4707 140th ave. N, Suite 107, Clearwater, FL 33762, across from the criminal courthouse and minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg. You can contact your St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney by phone at 727.286.6141 or online at info@BlakeDorstenLaw.com.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Doctor Shopping
By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.
Per the tampabay.com article, proof that prescription drug arrests can happen anywhere, anytime...
PINELLAS — Citizen tips have twice led to the arrest of a Belleair Bluffs woman on charges that she doctor shopped and sold painkillers, Pinellas sheriff's deputies said.
Deputies said they received multiple complaints of excessive foot traffic and suspected drug activity outside the home of the suspect, 42, of Pinellas.
The sheriff's narcotics strategic diversion task force began to investigate and on Jan. 14 they arrested her on seven counts of doctor shopping, three counts of trafficking in oxycodone, and six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, deputies said.
On Feb. 8, according to detectives, the accused was released from jail and placed under supervision.
On Wednesday, detectives received another tip that the lady was again using the same doctor's information, this time to obtain the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. After surveillance, they arrested her on one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
She was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting $5,000 bail Wednesday night.
Deputies said the case highlights the importance of citizen complaints.
Have you been arrested on drug trafficking or doctor shopping charges? Then the Pinellas, Florida based Blake & Dorsten, P.A. Pinellas criminal defense lawyers are at your service.
For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense attorneys, please contact the law firm of BLAKE AND DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the defense lawyers at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com
Per the tampabay.com article, proof that prescription drug arrests can happen anywhere, anytime...
PINELLAS — Citizen tips have twice led to the arrest of a Belleair Bluffs woman on charges that she doctor shopped and sold painkillers, Pinellas sheriff's deputies said.
Deputies said they received multiple complaints of excessive foot traffic and suspected drug activity outside the home of the suspect, 42, of Pinellas.
The sheriff's narcotics strategic diversion task force began to investigate and on Jan. 14 they arrested her on seven counts of doctor shopping, three counts of trafficking in oxycodone, and six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, deputies said.
On Feb. 8, according to detectives, the accused was released from jail and placed under supervision.
On Wednesday, detectives received another tip that the lady was again using the same doctor's information, this time to obtain the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. After surveillance, they arrested her on one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
She was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting $5,000 bail Wednesday night.
Deputies said the case highlights the importance of citizen complaints.
Have you been arrested on drug trafficking or doctor shopping charges? Then the Pinellas, Florida based Blake & Dorsten, P.A. Pinellas criminal defense lawyers are at your service.
For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense attorneys, please contact the law firm of BLAKE AND DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the defense lawyers at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com
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